Christmas lights shining bright from Rancho Cucamonga to Highland

Brian Foster called the power company recently and they told him his bill might be $900 in December.

For Foster, though, it's the cost of providing holiday cheer in the form of the 50,000 lights at his Highland home - all synchronized to eight different Christmas songs.

"This is our passion, one way we try to give back to the community," said Foster.

Foster - a professional techie - is not the only one, as a drive through pockets of the Inland Empire shows in living color.

From Claremont to Yucaipa and points in between, residents have turned their homes into works of holiday light art, using lights, inflatable Santas, nativity scenes and more lights, creating visions for the world to see.

In Foster's case, he has put his job skills to good use for the last 10 Christmases becoming a beacon for the area.

It's a family affair.

Foster's in-laws, Russell and ChaCha Haugen, made their annual trip from Arkansas to help with the display, which took more than 100 hours to set up.

"We had a lighting ceremony Nov. 25 when the mayor of Highland, Larry McCallon, flipped the switch with firefighters from Station No. 3 brought their fire truck out for the festivities."

About 100 spectators watched the opening light show, according to Foster.

New this year is a cosmic color ribbon tree with 12 strands of lights - like a big LED screen, 30 feet high.

But even with the brightness, the decorative doesn't necessarily revolve around Foster's Highland home.

If you're in the mood for an epic Christmas light display, follow the lights to Thoroughbred Street in Rancho Cucamonga.

Dozens of homes up and down the street put on elaborate Christmas light displays on their homes, lawns and trees. Some sell coffee, hot cocoa, churros, cookies and popcorn for hundreds of people that walk up and down the street every night for two weeks in the run-up to Christmas.

This event is so huge, it takes a special detachment of Sheriff's deputies to divert traffic and a trash boxes are placed along the route by a local trash hauler.

Residents say despite traffic congestion that can happen every night, the event is a happy one. The point is to delight visitors, they say.

"A lot of people enjoy coming and getting in the Christmas mood," said resident Cheryl Fowler. "I love to see the little kids get excited. It's good for parents to get kids out of the house, instead of watching TV and playing video games."

Resident John Sommers said most visitors don't cause issues for the street.

"I think most people who come here are joyous of everything," Sommers said. "Most are not disrespectful. They appreciate everything we do."